Handle grip for golf clubs



IT/VETOR. 3M E3 G. w. MATTERN HANDLE GRIP FOR GOLF CLUBS Filed Feb. 21, 1921 I wl June 1 1926.

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ATTORNEY.

Patented June 1 1926.

uNtTen srA Es ra'rial'a oFFic-a; v I

GEORGE w. HATTEBN, OI DAYTON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE CRAWFORD, IGGBEGOB AND OA'N'BY COMPANY OF DAYTON, OHIO, A CORPORATION 03 310. I

HANDLE GRIP FOR GOLF CLUBS.

My invention relates to golf clubs and more particularl to improvements in the gri of the handfe shaft.

is generall recognized by golfers, the

5 players grasp o the golf club must be firm, unyielding and any s ippage or turning of the handle shaft in the players hand will destroy the accuracy of his stroke, and shorten the flight of the ball. It has long it been the ractice to wrap the handles of golf clubs wit leather or other tenacious material. To assist in maintaining a firm and secure grasp of the golf club handle, such leather wrappings are frequently coated with dope, usually comprising a mixture of rosin, beeswax, oil and viscol, or other like preparations, and some players rub the grip of the handle shaft with wax to induce a more tenacious surface. Such preparations,

however, applied to the comparatively smooth surface of the leather or other wrappings, are soon worn ofl" or dissipated. Likewise, in long continued use, the wrappings themselves become quite smoothly worn and 2 fail to afiord the desired non-slipping grasp.

The object of the present invention is to overcome these difficulties by providing in the surface of the grip portion indentations, which will not only afford a somewhat to roughened surface, to increase the frictional contact of the handle with the players hand, but whichwill in addition have a suction effect, due to the expulsion of the air from such indentations by the pressure of the play- 85 ers hand, thereby tending to increase the.

security and firmness of his grasp. These indentations will further function as reservoirs or depositories for the dope or wax heretofore mentioned, which upon being sub- 0 'jected to the warmth of the players hand will increase the tenacity of the grasp without being quickly wiped or worn ofl of the handle.

In the playing of golf there are certain positions of the hands in grasping the club which have become recognized as the most efiective and desirable. Variations of the position in which the handle shaft is grasped will have a material effect upon the resulting flight of" the ball. A player having grown accustomed to a certain stroke desires to grasp the clubhandle each time with his hand in the same position. To this end the lndentations or pits, or other markings,

sists of the features of construction, and the mode of operation or their equivalents as hereinafter described and set forth in the claims.

Referring to the drawing, Fig. l is a perspective view of a golf club to the hand grip portion of which the present invention has been applied. Fig. 2 is a view of the grip portion of a golf club handle shaft, showing the preferred form of indentation or the pitted surface as hereinafter described. Fig. 3 is a greatly magnified detail sectional view of one of the pits or punctations. Fig. 4 is a detail view of a modification of the markings or indentations illustrating their use as gage points for positioning the players hand. Fig. 5 is a further detail view of a modification of the form of indentations, which may be variously shaped at the will of the manufacturer or the whim of the player. Like parts are indicated by similar characters of reference thruout the several views. In Fig. 1 of the drawing, there is shown a golf club of which 1 is the head, 2 the handle shaft and 3 the grip. The grip 3 is preferably though not necessarily covered by wrappings 4C of leather, composition or other yielding or tenacious material. The surface of this wrapping 4 is broken by a multitude of pits or punctations forming an indented or roughened surface as is shown at 5. These indentations or pits ma be arranged in various designs and may e of various shapes or forms. In Fig. 2 of the drawing, there has been shown a simple design, embodying two groups of circular pits 'or depressions, separated by an intermediate band or group of longitudinally disposed elongated de ressions, or dashes.v Depressions of this aracter although of comparatively shallow depth, afford an uneven 0r roughened surface, which increases materially the frictional contact of the players hand with the grip of the handle sha t, and in addition thereto, the surface of the layers hand is.

depressed somewhat within is ese de ressions or its, not only increasing the ictional bold, but also expelling the air from such indentations, and creating a vacuum or suction. While the vacuum or suction efiect exerted by any one of the indentations or depressions will be negligible, the effect of a 4 multitude-of these markings or depressions within .thefiplayers hand has a marked and material e ect in resistin slippage of the handle shaft. In the application of dope or wax to the grip to induce a more tenacious surface, such material collects within the depressions or indentures, which thereby become depositories or reservoirs. This do or wax when subjected to the heat of the players hand will ooze out of such depressionsin sufiicient uantities to achieve its function, or the sur ace of the players hand will be brought into contact with such deposit by being depressed within such pits or punctations. In either event, the dope or wax will be automatically supplied in sufficient quantities to prevent slippage yet will not be quickly dissipated or worn away.

By arran g the markings or indentations either in straight bands about the grip of the handle shaft as shown in Fig. 2, or in other suitable configurations, such groups of marking or indentations may be utilized as gage points. Thus if the player finds by experience that he achieves 1115 best strokes, when he grasps the handle shaft with the end of the thumb flush with a particular row or band of depressions, for instance the third or fourth group from the lower end of such markin he can always resume such position of hisiand by the aid of these marks or indentations upon the handle grip.

InFig. 4 there is shown a modification wherein in lieu of the small pits or punctations shown in Fig. 2, these gage marks comprise lines arranged in spaced relation upon the grip of the handle shaft as at 7, while in order to determine the position of the thumb peripherally 'upon the grip, an additional oggiitudinally disposed e 8 may be prov1 e V The form of the indentation or pit may be modified. In lieu of the circular and elongated marking disclosed in Fig. 2, such indentations may be star or crescent shaped,

they may assume the form of diamonds or h as other symbolic or conventional design andin addition to the functions heretofore stated, serve to lend individuality to a players and to this end the marking may be of a form or shape 'peculiarto the player. Whatever their shape or outline may be or the particular configuration of their grouping the fundamenta object of the markin s or indentations are first, to afford a roughened surface, which will increase thefrictional en agement of the players hand and the handIe grip; second, to afford a vacuum cup or suction effect by which the tenacity of the players grasp is increased; third, to form reservoirs for the deposit of dope, wax or other tenacious dressing, and fourth, to serve as gage points in placing the players hand in predetermined position.

From the above description it will be apparent that there is thus provided a device of the character described, possessing the particular features of advantage before enumerated as desirable, but which obviously is susceptible of modification in its form, proportions, detail construction and arran ement of parts without departing from t e principle involved or sacrificing any of its advantages.

While in order to comply with the statute the invention has been described in language more or less specific as to structural features, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific details shown, but that the means and construction herein disclosed comprise but one of several modes of putting the invention into effect, and the invention is therefore claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the legitimate and valid scope of the ap ended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A hand grip for a golf club handle shaft or the like, mcluding a cover therefor, comprising a nonelastic leather wrapping strip of slngle thickness having therein a lurality of cellular depressions spaced one om another and extending partially but not entirely through such hand grip cover.

2. A handle grip for golf clubs and the like, including a foveolate cover therefor, the spaced depressions of which are closed at their bottoms to form a plurality of spaced vacuum cups from which the air is expelled by the pressure of the operators hand to induce a suction by. which the tenacity of the hand grasp is increased.

3. A handle gripfor golf clubs and the like, including a foveolate cover therefor the spaced depressions of which are closed at their bottoms and form reservoirs for containing antislip preparation to be gradually dispensed by contact with the hands of the player.

4. A handle grip for golf clubs and the like, including a foveolate cover therefor, the cellular depressions of which are arranged in lines in predetermined spaced relation to serve the duo-functional purpose of increasing the tenacity of the hand grasp of the player and of gage marks for guidin the longitudinally and transversely in intersectplayer 1n positiomng his hands m pre etering relation to guide the player in positionmined POSltiOl). ing his hands in proper grasp of the handle. 10 5. A non-slip handle grip for 01f clubs In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set 5 and the like, including a foveo ate cover my hand this 17th day of February A. D.

therefor, having the spaced cellular depres- 1921.

sions thereof arranged in rows extending I GEORGE W. MATTERN. 

